以下是博主译自Phil LeBeau2009年1月9日发表在CNBC的文章Yes Virginia—The Electric Car Is Coming。联想到中国比亚迪前不久推出商用的电动汽车以及巴菲特投资比亚迪公司，是否我们应该开始准备拥抱这个新时代呢？

注：Yes, Virginia典故来自1897年，美国一位名叫Virginia O’Hanlon的小女孩很想知道世界上究竟有没有圣诞老人，就给纽约的太阳报社写了一封信。太阳报的编辑Francis Pharcellus Church撰写了一篇精彩绝伦的回信，叫做Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus. 这封信后来成为美国报业史上的经典，大概也是最著名的一封回信了。每年圣诞节，太阳报都会重新刊登这封回信，直到1949年停刊。

本周日底特律汽车展将开幕，而我在过去两周为此展做准备工作的时候，越来越清楚电动汽车时代将来临并且将来得很快。

这不仅是因为我在周三试驾了通用汽车的Chevy Volt电动汽车，而是因为我看到各大汽车厂商在开发这些电动汽车方面的劲头和投入。

曾经只是一场有趣试验的电动汽车项目现在已经成为激烈竞争的赛场。大家都希望造出首款大众喜爱又可大排量生产的电动汽车，如同大家都想买的下一代丰田普瑞斯（Prius）已经成为混和动力车的代表一样，汽车商们都想率先造出电动汽车中的普瑞斯。

到底发生了什么改变使得这些汽车商看到电动汽车隧道尽头的光芒？

首先，电池技术进步神速，已经可以满足用户需求。我最近试驾过的Volt和其它电动汽车说明了这一点。

第二，通用汽车推广Volt的行动激起大众对电动汽车的期待，通用汽车当然希望当大家在未来4至6年内要买电动汽车的时候首先想到的是他们的Volt，不过这也同时让大家开始适应将来晚上给自己的汽车充电的可能性。

最后，在我和其他汽车杂志记者试驾电动汽车的样车时，大家都说这些未来汽车样板并非天方夜谭的科研项目，也不是科幻片，而是将来大家使用的家庭轿车。

尽管我们离电动汽车时代还有一段距离并且还有很多问题要克服，但是让我们做好准备，因为这个时代快来临了。

原文：

http://media.cnbc.com/i/CNBC/Sections/News_And_Analysis/__Story_Inserts/graphics/__TRANSPORTATION/_AUTO/chevy_volt_new_2.jpg

Source: chevrolet.com Chevy Volt

As I have spent the last two weeks preparing for the Detroit Auto Show, which starts this Sunday, it's become clearer than ever to me the electric car is coming and coming fast.

 

It's not just because of the test drive I took in the Chevy Volt [GM  4.03  http://media.cnbc.com/i/CNBC/CNBC_Images/componentbacks/watchlist_down.gif- 电动汽车时代将来临" TITLE="是的，维吉尼亚 - 电动汽车时代将来临" />  -0.01  (-0.25%)   http://media.cnbc.com/i/CNBC/CNBC_Images/backgrounds/realtime_icon.gif- 电动汽车时代将来临" />]

As I have said for some time, all of the auto companies are working on building a line of electric vehicles. Some have clearly been more public and enthusiastic than others, but that is changing.

What was once an interesting exercise in preparing for the day when Americans are ready to go electric on the road, has turned into a land grab, with everyone racing to be first with "THE" mass market electric car people will clamor to buy. In other words, everyone wants the next Prius. They want "THE" model that will become synonymous with owning an electric car, just as Prius became "THE" hybrid to own.

So what's changed? Why do many auto makers now see light at the end of the electric car tunnel?

First, battery technology is advancing so quickly that these cars are delivering the power and performance buyers will demand. As I told you after driving the Volt on Wednesday, this car moves. I have had a similar experience with other electric prototypes I've driven recently.

Second, The publicity behind the Volt is creating anticipation with the public for electric cars. Sure, GM is hoping that when people finally go electric in the next 4-6 years they will look for a Volt, but in a broader context the "Volt-talk" has people warming to the idea of plugging in their car at night.

Finally, as I and other auto journalists drive electric prototypes, the word is spreading that these future models are not weird science projects. Forget the Jetsons and think about the every day family sedan. That's what's coming.

We're not quite to the electric car age, and yes there are still many hurdles to clear, but get ready because it's coming.